Improvement in harvesting-machines



J. K. HARRIS.

Harvester.

No. |7,6?8. Patented June 30, 1857.

UNITEDr STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN K. HARRIS, OF ALLENSVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTINGfMACHINES.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN K. HAaRIs, of Allensville, in the county ofSwitzerland and State of Indiana, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Harvesting-Machines; and I hereby declare the followingto be a full and exact description thereof', reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The chief object of my invention is to give a uniform and easy motion tothe cutting apparatus.

The functions of a harvester-cutter require that the necessary advanceof the fingers and frame should be accompanied by a constant and uniformaction of the knives at all points of their stroke, more especially iucutting grass, which requires a uniform and quick stroke ot' the cuttersto prevent clogging. In machines employing crank and cam motions thecutterbar, although it moves very quickly at midstroke, moves slowlywhile the crank or cam passes the dead points of its stroke, thusimparting to the cutters a rapid succession of slow and quick motions,which is the main cause of their choking. The various expedients--suchas dierent forms of fingers and knives and of actuating and transmittingmechanism-which have been resorted to fall so far short of removing thisevil that the team has often to be driven beyond its proper speed inorder that the motion of the knives at the slow periods may still besufciently rapid to prevent choking.

In the aecompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofthe machine as adapted for mowing; Fig. 2, a detached view of the pinionand segment; Figs. 3 and 4, side elevations of the respective innerdisks or faces of the combined drive-wheels, and Fig. 5 an axial sectionthrough the line K m of Fig. 3.

The cutter-frame a and tongue b are severally secured to the axle insuch manner as to admit of their independent vertical motion.

Of the cheeks by which the tongue is secured to the axle theinner one,c, is of somewhat extended diameter, and is pierced with apertures, asrepresented. A pin, d, being inserted in one of these, limits the ascentofthe frame a to any extent desired, while its rise or fall may be easedor restrained by a spring, g, projecting from its front end and confinedbetween the adjustable pins cf.

The cutters t' and fingers j may be of usual construction.

K K' are two wheels of similar form and dimensions, which, being bothmade fast to one axle, com pose together the duplex drive-wheel- K K. Abeveled face is formed on the inside of each of these wheels near itsperiphery, on which are arranged alternately oblique sets ot' two ormore cogs, 7c 7c.

L is a beveled pinion with two sets of teeth obliquely arranged,corresponding to those on the drive-Wheels, with which they meshalternatingly.` The consecutive sets ofcogs on each wheel respectivelyare placed just so far apart as to permit the escape and free backwardrotation of the side of the pinion which has been last advancing. In theillust-ration here given there are three of the cogs 7c 7e in each set,forming as many concentric circles of cogs, ot' which those composingthe inner circles are pitched7 one tooth in advance of the next toothoutside in the same set. Hence the teeth on the pinion and those on thedrive-wheel where they engage with the pinion range Vin lines pointingobliquely forward and upward, the effect of which is that thematch-teeth of the respective sets engage always deep in gear, and(without danger of iuterferin g with each other or hanging7 on the backvibration of the pinion) impart a more sustained, easy, and extendedvibration to the pinion at a constantly-uniform speed than would resultfrom the use of single teeth. lIf desired for greater 'stren gth, thebacks of these teeth may be bucketed, as they are only required to workone way.

The rear end of the pinion-shaft mis mounted with a segment, u, havingteeth formed on its periphery,which mesh into a straight rack, o, on thecutter-bar.

Attached byV `a hinge to` the beam a are springs q q', which, duringthe'working of the machine, confine between them alug, 1), on thecutter-bar, by means of which the force derived from the momentum of thecutter-bar is at the completion of each stroke transferred to thespring, and becomes available on the returnstroke to overcome theinertia of the bar. By

this means the concussion and jar which would otherwise occur at eachchange of stroke is prevented, while the even and unirorm reciprocatingmotion of the cutters is sufficiently preserved, the length 0f stroke ofthe knife increasing as the radius of the segment n exceeds that of therocking pinion L l l'.

Upon the least increase of labor in the cutters the stress on the piniontends to raise the bar from the ground, and thus the weight of theentire frame and its appurtenances is made to enforce the action of thecutters, while at the same time the increased downward pressure of thedrive-wheel increases its traction or hold on the ground.

s is a small lever attached to the duplex spring q Q', which, while saidspring is in action, rests on the beam a'. By raising thislever thespring is withdrawn from operating on the lug p, allowinga more extendedmotion to the cutter-bar, at which time (the pin d being removed) aslight elevation ofthe frame a, by means ofthe handle r, brings the cogson one side of the pinion L into contact with those of one ofthedrive-wheels in an inverse direction, rotating the pinion until lthecogs thereon attain a vertical position, and thus throwing the cuttingapparatus out of gear. The pin d being then inserted in a hole of the'cheek c underneath the frame, and the latter steadied by means ofthehandle 1', the machine maybe conveyed freely from place to place on itsown wheels without imparting motion to the cutting mechanism.

The means of throwing the cutting apparatus out of gear may, ifpreferred, consist of a suitable lever connecting with the cutterbar tomove it in either direction until the cogs on the pinion are broughtinto a vertical position, as sta-ted. A device equivalent to this willin any event be desirable for throwing the machine in gear when desired.

The lever s may be conlned in the desired position by any customarymeans. v

The handler is available, also,while themachine is in action, totemporarily elevate the finger-bar h, and enable it to pass overobstructions.

Amachine of this construction may be drawn easily by one horse, insteadof requiring two, three, or more. Y

An inferior modilication of my plan may consist of a single drive-wheelgearing at/ opposite extremities of its disk int-o two pini ms, eachhaving but one set of cogs and both attached to thc segment-shaft.

This machine may be adapted to harvesting grain by the application of areel and other customary appliances.

Having thus described my machine, what I claim therein as new and of myinvention islmparting tothe cutter-bar of harvestingmachines a uniformreciprocating motion by means of the duplex drive-wheel K K', when usedin combination with the rocking pinion L, said wheel and pinion beinggeared by means of alternate and oblique sets' of cogs k 7c' l Z', inthe manner above set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN K. HARRIS. Attest:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, Oor. KNIGHT.

